As for my background, I started writing professionally about 10 years ago. I've written for The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Vibe, and Spin, among other publications. Much of my journalistic work deals with music, and I've served as Pop Music Critic for the Buffalo News and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I also wrote a biography of the late, great R&B singer, Luther Vandross: Luther: The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross.

I've spent a lot of my life in school (something I don't necessarily recommend, but it is what it is). I hold a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Maryland in College Park, and am Associate Professor of Journalism at Northern Illinois University.

So, what's up with me now? I still write a lot (currently working on a novel), listen to lots of music (check out my DJ site for my music mixes), go to strip clubs (hit me up if u wanna "wing"), and love taking pictures.

My motto is: dream big and go for exactly what you want in life. Lots of crazy, cool shit will happen. Trust.

Stuff I Like To Look At (NSFW-ish)

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

So, today I got a HUGE thrill when I went to the mailbox and saw a postcard from legendary filmmaker John Waters. It reads:

"Dear Craig,

Thank you for your lovely smut collection!

John Waters"

Let me explain.

In March, I went to see John Waters give a lecture at Lake Forest College near Chicago. At the subsequent book signing, I was talking to him about the photographs I take in strip clubs, and he seemed interested. (I knew that he was into strip clubs from the infamous "tea-bagging" scene in Pecker.) I told him that I would send him copies of my books, American Boys: A Strip Club Diary and Shower. I never expected to hear back from him, so I was ecstatic to get the postcard. I mean, for my work to be called "smut" by the "King of Sleaze," that's an honor.

Btw, here's how he signed my copy of his excellent essay collection, Role Models. [There's a great chapter on outsider porn auteurs, David Hurles a.k.a "Old Reliable" (NSFW) and Bobby Garcia (NSFW).] Rather than have him sign the front of the book, I wanted him to put his signature on the page with my favorite passage. It reads:

I know that true love is supposed to be companionship, growing old together, blah blah blah. I thought that was what friends were for, not sexual partners! Some of us want hot lunatic porn sex and we want it forever!

I couldn't have said it better myself.

BONUS: Several years ago, I interviewed Waters about his holiday album, A John Waters Christmas. Of course, I used the opportunity to ask him a bunch of off-the-wall questions, including which Chipmunk--Alvin or one of his bros--he thought was the hottest. You can read it here.